spacecraft

noun

space·​craft ˈspās-ˌkraft How to pronounce spacecraft (audio)
: a vehicle or device designed for travel or operation outside the earth's atmosphere

Examples of spacecraft in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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SpaceX’s Starship nails 11th test flight SpaceX’s Starship, the biggest and most powerful spacecraft ever launched, successfully completed its 11th test flight, bringing the company closer to sending humans to other worlds. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Each batch is thought to consist of eight to 10 spacecraft. Mike Wall, Space.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Orbiting spacecraft can provide researchers with a basic idea of the moon's composition. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025 Starship consists of a first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, and an upper-stage spacecraft. Denise Chow, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spacecraft

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spacecraft was in 1929

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Cite this Entry

“Spacecraft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spacecraft. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

spacecraft

noun
space·​craft ˈspā-ˌskraft How to pronounce spacecraft (audio)
plural spacecraft
: a vehicle for travel beyond the earth's atmosphere

More from Merriam-Webster on spacecraft

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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